Meg Lo Mart was packed today as Peggy Hill made her rounds in the grocery section, picking out some of the best looking steaks to grill this evening for her impressive new guest. Her mind was scribble scratch and it seemed that she could retain nothing. She kept forgetting what she needed for the feast. Corn, steaks, seasoning...Nancy Gribble. Peggy panicked. How would she talk to Nancy after what she did with Dale?

"Hey sug," Nancy called out for Peggy while waving. Oh God, Oh God, what do I do? She thought. Peggy swallowed her gum and nearly choked.

"Hey Nancy, what are you doing here? I mean where's Dale? I wasn't with him this afternoon if that's what you're thinking," Nancy stared at her wildly with a questioning eye.

"No, I was just telling you hello. Are you ok? You seem tense? What are you shopping for, some kind of party?"She asked looking at the immense amount of food in Peggy's basket. Peggy sighed.

"I'm sorry Nancy. It's just the Bystander has got my brain all out of sorts and today Bobby's new tutor came in and I'm trying to organize some kind of little party for her. She's a Loyola graduate, you know," Peggy pulled apiece of gum out of her pocket and shoved it into her mouth. Nancy smiled.

"Oh great, can I help with anything?" Nancy asked while picking up a bag of bread. Peggy was extremely nervous with Nancy so close, but felt like maybe it was for the best.

"Sure. That'll be great. I could use some help," Peggy put a few sacks of onions in her cart and smiled at Nancy brightly. Nancy was a beautiful lady, but Peggy felt like it was only right for Dale to have the heart of someone who actually loved him. It wasn't fair for her to cheat and leave poor Dale in the dark. That was the only way to justify what she had done this afternoon. She truly had no regrets at this point as she saw Nancy meet John Redcorn in the isle of frozen food and hold hands. Her own needs were now the top of her list. With Bobby graduating in less than a year, her nest was empty and all she had was the shards of a loving marriage. What would she do once Bobby was gone? She wanted to live life right now and this seemed like the most appropriate thing to do and how she enjoyed it. The feeling of a man who seemed to worship her made her heart sing like a morning glory after a beautiful sunrise. Unbeknownst to Peggy, Hank was having the same feelings at this moment for a certain sweet teacher.

He watched her take a sip of ice tea and admire the golden brown crust on her fried chicken before taking a dainty bite. Hank decided to take her to an Arlen staple, Sugar Foots, and she had loved the idea. She looked at him with a sweet gaze and sighed.

"Tell me about yourself, Mr. Hill. What do you do?" She asked after swallowing a bite of the chicken he had suggested for her to try.

"I am the assistant manager at Strickland Propane. I sell propane and propane accessories. It is a very rewarding career. I have learned more from my boss Buck Strickland than I did from my own father. He actually owns this restaurant!" Hank took a drink from his glass and looked over at her.

"I know that feeling. My parents were not around much either. They were very wealthy and spent a lot of time travelling. I rarely got to see them," she took another bite. Hank leaned on his elbow.

"Where did you go?"

"I stayed with my grandmother, but I took care of her mostly. She was very ill and could not get around very well, but she taught me a lot and loved me very much, so I can't complain. She is the reason why I am who I am," her eyes welled and sparkled brightly.

"That's a great story. Where's your grandma these days?" Hank asked. He watched her smile fade a bit.

"She passed about a year ago, but she's not suffering anymore,"Kate dabbed her mouth and placed her hands on the table.

"I'm sorry to hear that. She sounded like a great person. What am I saying, she had to be a great person for you to turn out the way you have. I'm sure she was very proud of you," Hank stated to her openly. For some reason he felt very comfortable talking intimately with her. She was easy to talk to and a good listener. He didn't feel as though every word that he spoke was being judged like other people he knew.

"She was wonderful, but now, here I am, cursed to wander alone," Kate chuckled.

"Well, that's just silly. I'm sure your boyfriend is great too," he took a bite of a piece of blueberry pie he had ordered. She blushed from the neck up and looked away from Hank's gaze shyly.

"I don't have a boyfriend. Well, I did, but things just didn't work out. Apparently I wasn't the kind of girl he was looking for. In fact the kind of girl he was looking for was my best friend. I caught them in bed together," she looked abused for a moment, but then she looked at Hank who felt a pang in his heart. He all of a sudden didn't feel alone. He felt like perhaps this was meant to be and she had been sent to him to heal any wounds that were inflicted.

"I'm sorry, that's too bad. Sometimes people can be so cruel, especially the ones we love the most," He had felt the same when he walked in on Dale and Peggy.

"That's usually how it goes for people who have morals," she placed her fork on a napkin and pulled out her wallet from her little red purse.

"No, no, this one's on me," he put money on the table and stepped out of the booth. She leaned over to put her wallet back in her purse and Hank couldn't help but stare at her supple bosom that spilled over the collar of her shirt. His heart began to race and he could feel himself actually becoming aroused from just the mere site of her body. He had to get out of here.

"Oh, look at the time. Bobby should be home by now," Hank said as he looked at his watch. "Now don't be alarmed when you meet my boy. Like I said, he's strange," He repeated as he helped her out of the booth. She slipped her purse over her shoulder and looked at Hank with wide blue eyes and for a moment the sun hit her at the perfect angle and she shimmered beautifully. His knees went weak and he took a deep breath as he watched her soft full lips come to the bud of a smile. She nodded as though she knew what he was thinking. Hank's heart was light as a feather as she entwined her tiny little fingers around his forearm. It reminded him of the good old days when ladies were ladies and men were men. The days when he remembered his mom wearing pill box hats and knee length dresses. The days were all the men wore suits, ties and loafers, such an easier time. Pure and lovely.